Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal as Gunners look to make one last try as they battle against Forest: Team News, Injuries & Lineup Predictions

Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal as Gunners look to make one last try as they battle against Forest: Team News, Injuries & Lineup Predictions

We take a look at the squad news as Arsenal make a last-ditch effort to prevent Manchester City from clinching the Premier League title during a visit to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Arsenal suffered a disappointing 3–0 defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion in the previous game, dropping them second in the table, four points behind the Cityzens, with City still having one game to play. Brighton’s victory in the previous game was a major blow to the Gunners’ title hopes, leaving little room for recovery.

Under Cooper’s management, Forest have displayed their attacking prowess by scoring in each of their last five Premier League games. However, their defensive record is a concern as they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 15 top-flight meetings since February. Arsenal will be looking to exploit these defensive weaknesses and correct their own attacking errors against Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners have been struggling with fitness issues at a crucial time. Gabriel Martinelli will be out for the final two games of the season with an ankle injury sustained from a foul by Brighton’s Moises Caicedo. . Zinchenko surprisingly attended the team’s training last week but was later ruled out along with Saliba. Neither Saliba nor Zinchenko are expected to recover in time for Saturday’s game. Moreover, Mohamed Elneny and Takehiro Tomiyasu, who are suffering from knee injuries, will also remain unavailable. Despite a disappointing performance against his former club, Leandro Trossard should replace the injured Martinelli.

Forest head coach Steve Cooper reportedly felt a sense of relief as no other players were added to the injured list after the game at Stamford Bridge. However, the home team’s absences are again expected to be in the double digits. Dean Henderson, Chris Wood, Giulian Biancone, Neco Williams, Omar Richards, Scott McKenna, Jack Colback and Jonjo Shelvey will miss the match due to various injuries and internal disciplinary issues. Gustavo Scarpa and Emmanuel Dennis will undergo further checks in the coming days.

Player to watch: Morgan Gibbs-White

One of Gibbs-White’s notable skills is his precise ball control. He possesses excellent dribbling ability, which allows him to maneuver in tight spaces and beat opponents with confidence. His agility and quick feet allow him to change direction quickly, making it difficult for defenders to dispossess him. In addition, the Englishman showed his qualities in passing. He has good vision and awareness on the pitch which allows him to execute accurate short and long range passes to his teammates. His passing range helps build team play and creates scoring opportunities for his teammates.

Along with his technical skills, the 23-year-old has also demonstrated his ability to make smart moves off the ball. He has good positional awareness and finds spaces to take the ball or run into attacking areas. Morgan’s understanding of the game and his ability to read the action of the game make him a valuable addition to the team’s attacking moves. Whether it’s powerful shots from outside the box or well-timed runs to goalscoring positions, Gibbs-White can be a threat in the attacking third.

Form of Nottingham Forest:

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Courtesy: live score

Form of Arsenal:

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Arsenal’s expected starting line-up (4-2-3-1):

Photo from Live Score

Aaron Ramsdale (TW); Ben White (RB), Jakub Kiwior (CB), Gabriel (CB), Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB); Granit Xhaka (CM), Thomas Partey (CM); Bukayo Saka (AD), Martin Odegaard (CAM), Gabriel Martinelli (AG); Gabriel Jesus (ST).

Estimated result:

Nottingham Forest 1-2 Arsenal

Arteta has the daunting task of motivating his players for the upcoming game against Forest. Cooper’s side have managed to pick up seven points from their last four games, putting them just outside the relegation zone with just a few games left. Even a single point in the upcoming match would greatly contribute to their fight for survival.
Nottingham Forest showed commendable form at home, increasing the challenge for Arsenal. The importance of the match for the home side makes it a difficult match for the north London side, who will once again be missing some key players.